THE politician tasked with gritting the town’s streets was unable to attend a public meeting on the snow chaos because he had “other business”.

Amid criticism for his absence at last Wednesday’s Southport Area Committee, Councillor John Fairclough accused rival politicians of making things personal.

Cllr Fairclough, who has held Linacre ward in Bootle for Labour for 17 years, was asked to attend Southport Area Committee but said he could not make it at short notice as he had been on annual leave and was unable to access his emails.

The Visiter understands Cllr Fairclough is also away this week on trade union business and his department’s meeting, Technical Services, due to be held on Wednesday was also cancelled.

The Labour Councillor is paid £18,000 a year on top of the basic £9,000 allowance to act as the political boss for Technical Services.

He said: “This week’s Technical Services Department meeting was cancelled because the cabinet meeting was cancelled for the following day.

“There is another Technical Services Department meeting planned for later this month.

“This arrangement was made in November before the snow had fallen.”

Cllr Fairclough said he would not attend Area Committees until a full report into Sefton’s response to the snow had been completed which is expected in late January.

He added: “This is the first time the snowfall and ice clearing issue has been politicised, but not just making it political from other parties, but making it personal.

“The Lib Dems are the biggest party but they and their Conservative coalition partners would rather score political points than work out how to get it right for next time it snows.”

Cllr Fairclough added: “We are currently looking at both short-term and long-term options because there is every chance that similar weather could return this winter and of course in the years ahead.”

But Sefton Conservative leader Paula Parry said the attendance at Area Committees of Chief Executive Margaret Carney, and top council officers Jerry McConkey and Peter Moore was sufficient and Cllr Fairclough did not need to be there.

Liberal Democrat councillor Simon Shaw said: “I am rather concerned there seems to be an emerging pattern of Councillor Fairclough being unwilling to hear what the public has to say about the council’s failures over the Christmas period.